Re: tutor training

["Prof. Jean Timpel" <JTIMPEL@bach.cuw.edu>]

Meg Larson wrote:
> For anyone who has the time, I need some info on how the tutors in your =
> centers are trained.  I'm doing a research project on writing centers =
> and I'd like to compare how our tutors are trained to other centers =
> around the US.
> 
> I don't need much, just a basic idea of how you train your tutors: =
> requirements for tutoring in the center, tutoring course outlines, etc.  =
> Our center is in its first semester of operation, using peer-tutors, and =
> any feedback you can provide will only help ensure that we will exist in =
> the future.
>  
Meg,
    I have two different training systems in place.  I started a 
Practicum class this semester.  We are using The Bedford Guide by 
Ryan and The St. Martin's Sourcebook by Murphy and Sherwood.  Written 
assignments consist of the student consultants researching and 
producing handouts for the consultants in the Center to use and an 
attendant short paper explaining the research and theory behind what 
they did.  they are also doing a case study and self-analysis of 
their consulting.
    The other training plan is my previous system of training 
consultants through a few hours of training before beginning work in 
the Center and occasional inservices during the semester.  This year 
the Practicum class is running the inservices pretty much.  I still 
have to allow people to be consultants that way instead of 
exclusively by taking the class, because I would not have enough 
consultants to run the Center otherwise.  I hope eventually to insist 
that consultants have to take the class, but for now, I do both.

Good Luck
Jean
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Jean Timpel
Concordia University-Wisconsin
12800 N. Lake Shore Drive
Mequon. WI 53097
414-243-4216
jtimpel@bach.cuw.edu
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